Caffeinated Foods and Beverages: A Problem for Sleepers?

Caffeine is a well-known stimulant that can make it difficult to fall asleep if consumed too late in the day. In fact, some experts recommend not consuming any caffeine past noon. While coffee is often considered to be the prime source of caffeine, there are actually many other drinks and foods that could have caffeine in them. So, if you’re finding it difficult to fall asleep at night, make sure you’re not eating any of these foods!

Chocolate: Most forms of chocolate contain caffeine and theobromine, both stimulants that could keep you awake at night. Chocolate is found in many snacks that people enjoy at night include chocolate bars, chocolate ice-cream, cookies, and more. A single dark chocolate candy bar could have as much as 70 mg of caffeine – almost as much as a single cup of coffee!

Soda: A single can of soda has between 20 to 40 milligrams of caffeine in it. If you drink multiple bottles of soda during the day, it could be the equivalent of 2 cups of coffee.

Tea: Both hot brewed tea and bottled cold teas may have some caffeine. If your tea has black or green tea leaves in it, then there will be a moderate amount of caffeine. Black tea averages about 40 milligrams of caffeine per cup and green tea contains 20 mg.

Migraine Medicine: Certain medications made for headaches contain caffeine. Be sure to check the labels and use a different type of pain pill at night if you need it.

Snack Bars: Some energy bars may contain caffeine. Check the label for caffeine content and make sure it doesn’t have any chocolate in it.

Flavored Water: Flavored water may be a healthier option than soda but that doesn’t mean there’s no caffeine. Some flavored water brands add caffeine and other stimulants to their drink, so be careful!

Other Foods That Could Interrupt Your Sleep

If you want to ensure you get a good night’s rest, you might also want to avoid drinking too much liquid and eating sugar. If you do drink liquid before bed, you may end up having to wake up in the middle of the night to use the bathroom. A good rule of thumb is to avoid liquid 2 to 3 hours before bed. Sugar consumption at night could also lead to blood sugar spikes which can wake you up in the middle of your sleep.

Remember, practicing good sleep habits before bed can help ensure you get a better, more rejuvenating night’s rest.